It's being suggested small businesses are finding it tougher to get loans than big businesses, despite being a safer option. 

The latest data shows the compound annual growth rate of bank lending has slowed from 6% to 1.5% since 2013. 

Small Business NZ Founder Phil Wicks told Mike Hosking most banks are making business hard. 

He says lending to someone with skin in the game should be more attractive to banks. 

Wicks told Hosking many banks assess loan risks like it was centuries ago. 

He says there are small businesses with strong work ethics, no debt, and personal guarantees, still being declined 

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